Newsday's Athlete of the Week is Massapequa boys volleyball's Logan Coady
Massapequa's Logan Coady passes the ball during a state Division I boys volleyball championship semifinal against Connetquot on Nov. 23 in Rochester. Credit: Adrian Kraus
He may not be the loudest player on the court, but Logan Coady’s exemplary play brought the Massapequa boys volleyball team to new heights.
“He knows what it takes to be a leader, a good teammate, and a champion,” coach Elissa DiSalvo said. “He leads by his skill and ability. He doesn’t talk a whole lot, but when he does, kids listen.
“That’s the impact he has on my program that is going to stick with us for a long time.”
That Newsday Athlete of the Week-level of play was showcased last Sunday at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, where he posted 20 kills and a block, including the match point, in Massapequa’s 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13) win over Penfield to capture the Division I state championship, the first in program history. The title capped a 21-0 season.
Coady was named the MVP of the state tournament.
“I was in complete disbelief. The thought of obtaining a state championship has always been the goal,” Coady said. “I saw the ball go up to me and I knew my job was to put it away, then I laid on the floor in shock that we actually did it.”
“I remember saying, ‘if you set Logan, the game is over,’” DiSalvo said. “I watched it about 15 times already. Our team model was to play as one in our playoff run, and Logan was a big part of that.”
The senior Coady mentored his younger teammates.
“Kids want to be like him,” DiSalvo said. “They see the type of player he is and the accolades that he is getting, and they strive to be like Logan Coady.”
It’s not only Coady’s teammates who have been learning from him, but opponents have also taken notice of his play and have asked for pictures at games.
“It’s a little surprising when they come up to me because I’m still a high school kid,” Coady said. “It’s a great feeling seeing that I am getting recognition from kids from different towns.”
Off the court, Coady maintains a 93 GPA and is a member of the Best Buddies Club, where he forms bonds with students with disabilities, playing games, singing karaoke and working on art projects.
“Joining the club made me more compassionate toward others,” Coady said. “It brings us closer together as a community, and I always want to give back to the community and spread positivity.”
With the season ending, Coady is looking to continue playing volleyball for his club team and plan for his next chapter in life: attending college.
“With the season over, I want to focus on academics and volleyball,” Coady said. “Hopefully, in the near future, I can play volleyball in college and get a degree.”
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
